Noninvasive Blood Alcohol Measurement System Senior Project
Format
SOECS Senior Project Demonstration
Faculty Mentor Name
Huihui Xu
Faculty Mentor Department
Bioengineering
Abstract/Artist Statement
The Noninvasive Blood Alcohol Measurement System is a bioengineering senior project that obtains a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value from a driver in a noninvasively then, if above a certain limit, prevents ignition in a vehicle. In this system, the aim is to have a quick and simple way to do this while impeding a sober driver’s ability to drive as little as possible. The system is made up of two major components: the sensor sending data and the microcontroller receiving and analyzing data. Two types of sensing methods were explored in the project: an infrared radiation method and a breath alcohol sensor method. The sensors were prototyped and tested using a known amount of alcohol while using a breathalyzer as an accuracy check to determine the feasibility of the sensors made. Each sensor used amplified voltage changes from a baseline to determine a change from a sober control state, which depending on the amount of voltage difference, would determine the BAC of a person driving. This difference, even with amplification, was found to be too insignificant for the IR to distinguish from noise, but enough difference for the alcohol sensor. This alcohol sensor will be implanted into a steering wheel to replicate driving conditions and tested further to calibrate the sensor for future use.
Location
School of Engineering & Computer Science
Start Date
7-5-2016 2:30 PM
End Date
7-5-2016 4:00 PM
Noninvasive Blood Alcohol Measurement System Senior Project
School of Engineering & Computer Science
The Noninvasive Blood Alcohol Measurement System is a bioengineering senior project that obtains a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value from a driver in a noninvasively then, if above a certain limit, prevents ignition in a vehicle. In this system, the aim is to have a quick and simple way to do this while impeding a sober driver’s ability to drive as little as possible. The system is made up of two major components: the sensor sending data and the microcontroller receiving and analyzing data. Two types of sensing methods were explored in the project: an infrared radiation method and a breath alcohol sensor method. The sensors were prototyped and tested using a known amount of alcohol while using a breathalyzer as an accuracy check to determine the feasibility of the sensors made. Each sensor used amplified voltage changes from a baseline to determine a change from a sober control state, which depending on the amount of voltage difference, would determine the BAC of a person driving. This difference, even with amplification, was found to be too insignificant for the IR to distinguish from noise, but enough difference for the alcohol sensor. This alcohol sensor will be implanted into a steering wheel to replicate driving conditions and tested further to calibrate the sensor for future use.